POS0586-HPR SARCOPENIA IN PATIENTS WITH AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS OLDER THAN 65 YEARS: PREVALENCE AND PREDISPOSING FACTORS
Authors: L. Cano Garcia, J. Vacas, P. J. Armenteros Ortiz, F. G. Jiménez-Núñez, G. Diaz-Cordobes, S. Manrique Arija
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Sarcopenia is a muscle disease that presents as a loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. It is a condition associated with chronic diseases and aging that predicts disability, hospitalization and death. <h3>Objectives</h3> To describe the prevalence of sarcopenia and identify risk factors associated with sarcopenia in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) older than 65 years. <h3>Methods</h3> Design: Case-control study. Participants: Cases: They were recruited by simple random sampling among patients over 65 years of age with SpA (ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria) treated at 2 university hospitals. Controls: They were recruited for convenience by asking the cases to attend a consultation with a person of the same age (+/- 5 years) and sex. Variables: The main variable: sarcopenia, defined according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOPII) 2019 criteria. The risk factors for sarcopenia evaluated were: economic level, malnutrition, measured with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), toxic habits, comorbidities and Charlson index, physical activity measured with the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), muscle assessment measured by ultrasound. Other variables were: hemoglobin, calcium, vitamins D and B12, albumin, C-reactive protein, BMI (body mass index), polypharmacy (≥5), quality of life (EQ-5D) and factors related to SpA: activity of disease measured with BASDAI and ASDAS, physical function measured with BASFI, and treatments. Statistical analysis: descriptive and multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with sarcopenia in SpA. <h3>Results</h3> 36 patients and 36 controls were recruited, of whom 54 (75%) were men, with a mean (± SD) age of 70 years (±4.37). Of the 36 patients with SpA, 20 (55.6%) had axial SpA and 15 (44.5) had SpA with axial and peripheral involvement with a mean of 32 years (±10.9) of disease. The prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with SpA is 8.3%. No differences were found in sarcopenia between patients [3(8.3%) and controls [1(2.8%)], p=0.614.Patients with SpA who had sarcopenia, compared with those who did not, had a mean years of evolution of their major disease [45.6 (±3.1) Vs 31.06 (± 10.5)], p=0.24; worse performance tests in the Short Physical Performance Battery (p=0.26), in relation to ultrasound parameters, a lower thickness was observed in the right forearm 75% radial and left forearm 66% radial [11.1(0.2)Vs 14, 7(2.4)], p=0.17 and left rectus femoris area [11.5(1.2)Vs15.4(2.8)], p=0.26, greater thigh fat right to 50% [25.6(4.7) Vs 15.2(8.3)], p=0.041 and lower albumin levels [7.17(21.5) Vs 19.02(608, 5)] p=0.053. On the other hand, no significant differences were found in the rest of the parameters studied for disease activity, disability, quality of life (EQ-5D), malnutrition, toxic habits, comorbidities or physical activity. In the multivariate model, the years of disease evolution (p=0.041) Table 1 were identified as an independent predictor of sarcopenia in patients with SpA. This model would explain 33% of sarcopenia in RA (R2=0.37). <h3>Conclusion</h3> In our study we found no differences in sarcopenia in patients older than 65 years with SpA compared to controls. The longer evolution time of their disease in patients with SpA is associated with a greater risk of sarcopenia. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> NIL. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.